Recruiting Notebook

Pack's Randolph makes college commitment

Alfonso Randolph verbally committed to FIU on Sunday. He will join his West Port teammate Jonnu Smith who is also committed to the Golden Panthers.

Doug Engle/Star-Banner/File

By Richard BurtonCorrespondent

Published: Monday, January 21, 2013 at 7:20 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, January 21, 2013 at 7:20 p.m.

Alfonso Randolph just made National Signing Day an even bigger event for the West Port High School football program.

Randolph, a standout tailback for the Wolf Pack, committed to Florida International University on Sunday and will join teammate Jonnu Smith in signing with the Golden Panthers on National Signing Day.

West Port could have as many as eight players sign college scholarships in early February, with Randolph and Smith guaranteed to be the first I-A signees for the program since it began playing varsity football in 2001.

Randolph, who also received offers from Nebraska-Kearney, Becker (Mass.) College and Fairmont State, was sold on FIU and what it had to offer.

"It's a nice campus and they've got a nice program," Randolph said. "(New FIU head coach Ron) Turner has brought in a great staff and I feel great about having the chance to go there with a player from my own (high) school.

"It's great having someone that I know going there with me. Being away from home, it will be nice to have someone to hang out with down in Miami."

West Port coach Ryan Hearn, a former recruiting coordinator at The Citadel, worked with Randolph, Smith and Markee Hayes, who has multiple D-I offers, to make sure things went smoothly during the recruiting process.

"Coach Hearn was great and really helped me out a lot," Randolph said. "It's very satisfying (to have the chance to play at a Division I-A) school."

Randolph battled through a shoulder injury and his perseverance paid off.

"I always wanted to earn a scholarship to play college football," Randolph said. "I had a lot of people jump off when I got injured, but (former FIU running backs coach Dennis) Smith (who still is employed at the school) kept recruiting me and stayed in contact.

"All of my hard work wound up paying off."

Randolph, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 180 pounds, will now use his 4.69 speed in the 40-yard dash to play a variety of spots in the backfield for the Golden Panthers.

"They run a pro-style offense and they said they'll work me in at halfback, running back and some slot receiver," said Randolph, who will join former Trinity Catholic standout Kendrick Rhodes, a Golden Panthers standout, in the FIU backfield.

RATTLER REVIEWS: Several members of the Class of 2014 for Belleview High School's football program have garnered interest from colleges across the country.

Ben Jones (OL), who stands 6-foot-6, went to the recent combine hosted by scout.com on January 5 and graded out as one of the top offensive linemen in attendance.

<p>Alfonso Randolph just made National Signing Day an even bigger event for the West Port High School football program.</p><p>Randolph, a standout tailback for the Wolf Pack, committed to Florida International University on Sunday and will join teammate Jonnu Smith in signing with the Golden Panthers on National Signing Day.</p><p>West Port could have as many as eight players sign college scholarships in early February, with Randolph and Smith guaranteed to be the first I-A signees for the program since it began playing varsity football in 2001.</p><p>Randolph, who also received offers from Nebraska-Kearney, Becker (Mass.) College and Fairmont State, was sold on FIU and what it had to offer.</p><p>"It's a nice campus and they've got a nice program," Randolph said. "(New FIU head coach Ron) Turner has brought in a great staff and I feel great about having the chance to go there with a player from my own (high) school.</p><p>"It's great having someone that I know going there with me. Being away from home, it will be nice to have someone to hang out with down in Miami."</p><p>West Port coach Ryan Hearn, a former recruiting coordinator at The Citadel, worked with Randolph, Smith and Markee Hayes, who has multiple D-I offers, to make sure things went smoothly during the recruiting process.</p><p>"Coach Hearn was great and really helped me out a lot," Randolph said. "It's very satisfying (to have the chance to play at a Division I-A) school."</p><p>Randolph battled through a shoulder injury and his perseverance paid off.</p><p>"I always wanted to earn a scholarship to play college football," Randolph said. "I had a lot of people jump off when I got injured, but (former FIU running backs coach Dennis) Smith (who still is employed at the school) kept recruiting me and stayed in contact.</p><p>"All of my hard work wound up paying off."</p><p>Randolph, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 180 pounds, will now use his 4.69 speed in the 40-yard dash to play a variety of spots in the backfield for the Golden Panthers.</p><p>"They run a pro-style offense and they said they'll work me in at halfback, running back and some slot receiver," said Randolph, who will join former Trinity Catholic standout Kendrick Rhodes, a Golden Panthers standout, in the FIU backfield.</p><p><b>RATTLER REVIEWS:</b> Several members of the Class of 2014 for Belleview High School's football program have garnered interest from colleges across the country.</p><p>Ben Jones (OL), who stands 6-foot-6, went to the recent combine hosted by scout.com on January 5 and graded out as one of the top offensive linemen in attendance.</p><p>Jones is being recruited by Indiana, Duke, West Virginia, Missouri, UCF, USF, Colorado St., Arizona and Illinois.</p><p>Craig Riche (RB), attended the same combine as Jones and had the second-fastest 40-yard dash time at 4.5 seconds, to go along with a top-five broad jump (9'9") and top 10 shuttle (4.48).</p><p>Riche, who has fully recovered from a season-ending injury suffered in 2012, has received interest from Arizona, Oregon, Illinois and Akron so far in the recruiting process.</p><p>Another standout for BHS at the same combine was Marvin Reynolds, who was one of the top performing defensive ends.</p><p>Reynolds had the highest vertical jump of all entries at the combine at 35 inches, as well as top-five efforts in the broad jump (9'9") and shuttle run (4.28).</p><p>He also ran a 4.8 in the 40 and bench pressed 185 for 10 reps.</p><p>Currently, Reynolds is receiving interest from Missouri and Akron.</p><p>Finally, Dyantre Colston, a 6-foot-3 receiver, ran a 4.68 in the 40, a 4.47 in the shuttle and posted a jump of 8'5" in the broad jump.</p><p>Colston has received interest from Michigan, Old Dominion and Akron.</p><p><b>RANKED WRESTLERS:</b> A total of six area wrestlers were among those ranked in their respective weight classes by scout.com.</p><p>North Marion senior heavyweight Aaron Pringle is the leader, as he is the No. 1 grappler at 285 pounds in Class 1A.</p><p>Pringle was a state-runner-up last season in Class 1A at 285.</p><p>District wrestling meets begin February 2.</p><p><b>SECTIONAL WEIGHTLIFTING:</b> Belleview High School will host the Section 4 Girls Weightlifting Qualifier on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.</p><p>In all, 23 teams will compete at the event.</p><p>The top three finishers in each weight class advance to the FHSAA State Meet set for February 9 in Kissimmee.</p>